February 2010

February 28, 2010

Big day here in our home, Presley is moving to a "big girl bed". She slept in one over the summer in New York but I'm barely making the transition here. She's turning three and we decided the bed and bedding would be her big gift this year! I'm hoping to get her out of night time diapers but we'll take this one step at a time.

I of course got sad while putting her bed together and regretted not taking pictures of her in the crib. I guess it's a milestone that will not be documented (gasp)... I'm really tired tonight so I hope the excitement of the new bedding doesn't last too long.

Her room still needs some paint, a home made duvet cover and a few more things to hang. We've only been here two years (giggle). However this week I need to get moving on the birthday celebration goodies!

February 27, 2010

Ok so I love my camera and taking photos of everything, this is not a secret. Today I wasn't sure what I was going to photograph, today was day three of my workshop and I didn't know if I would have a chance to shoot anything new (same room for 7 to 8 hours). Then I looked up and saw these precious light bulbs! The filament really looks like a heart. I have seen logos and stickers that look like this but I thought it was someones clever interpretation. I just knew I had to blog about this bulb.

I had such a great few days these lil' bulbs just make me smile and I hope they make you smile too!

February 26, 2010

Oh what a day... Today we had a few hours of shooting to work on the concepts we discussed during class. Several girls came in wearing prom dressed and the daughter of a girl taking the class... I enjoyed having the chance to speak with the other girls about their photo composition, equipment and challenges we were having. I hope that our camaraderie continues long after our workshop.

February 25, 2010

I am in Utah for a few days attending a photography workshop, and I feel like a kid on the first day of school. I already photograph any and everything and being here is no different. I felt a bit silly because for most of the day I was the only one walking around during break with my camera (do I look like "that kid"). But I could not help it, the room was amazing and well the snacks were too yummy to just eat.

February 22, 2010

This was taken a few days ago. The weather lately (rain) has kept us indoors, and I've been very uncreative... Anyway, this video was taken right out side our gym. Presley loves this bike rack and calls it the green rainbow. I love her imagination.

February 17, 2010

In the past month I've had two friends who have lost a parent. During my conversations with them, I felt my words were so much less then they should have been. I wished for words that conveyed how hurt I was for them.. There really are no words fit to comfort someone at a time like that.

After hearing the news, I hung up the phone and continued about my day with a heavy heart. At different times during the following days I thought about how devastated my friends were and what they must feel... There have been situations in my life where I have been given crushing news. I remember a feeling of the world spinning on around me and my life at a stand still.

I thought of my friends, having to do the things we all do, get gas, go to the bank, shower and eat. It must be difficult to do just about anything. I hope there are parts of the day that pass that are calming and comforting... This (my blog post) along with the other things we do (offering help, sending food and flowers) to comfort those we love feels hollow.

Tonights blog is maybe more for me, to express that I do feel we all are connected and I didn't want this time to pass without acknowledging their loss... The helpless feeling I have right now is something I hope will serve me later. At a time when I'm in need, I will have the knowledge that there are people around waiting to help.

February 16, 2010

I decided that I would attempt my make Presley some hair bows. My girlfriend Brandi had taken a class to learn how so I asked her to teach me. This evening we got together and in two hours we made 4 bows for our little girls. It went a lot quicker then expected and I imagine I will continue to make bows for my Lil' Bugga.

After returning home I found this site that has instructions on how to make lots of different types... Now that I know what to expect I plan on picking up some more clips and going a little crazy with bows for my baby.

Before I had Presley I had Bailey, my dog. A boyfriend bought him for me in 1999, he was born the summer John Kennedy Jr. died. I named him Bailey J. (for John). We got him in Oklahoma, he's a pure breed Wiemaraner. The people we bought him from should not have been breeding these dogs (I didn't realize this at the time). I had no idea the difficulties he would have.

Bailey was only 6 weeks old and separated from this Mother, who was very skittish. Which I now know is not a good trait in a dog. Bailey was covered in ticks and I later found out had worms... I was angry that he was so sick but had felt I had saved him... He was so cute I didn't really think any of that other stuff would matter.

I wanted a dog so I could have a running companion, Bailey turned out not to be this type of dog. His hind quarters are under developed and he is so awkward. He is not the athletic dog I had hoped for, but he is so sweet you can't help but love him... I never really trusted him around kids, he's so big, clumsy and doesn't like loud noises or fast movements.

These past couple of weeks Bailey has not ben doing so well. Judging from his behavior we assumed he ate something he shouldn't have and was having trouble digesting it. In the past few years he has had two stomach surgeries, the Vet has told us he is unable to perform any more intestinal surgeries (too much scar tissue). However when we took him to the Vet he was unable to determine the problem. Bailey, had x-rays done, he was checked for parvo, liver and kidney failure. The reason for his illness is still undetermined... He's on several medications, and a special bland diet. He has lost 30 lbs. and is very lethargic.. I decided I wanted to photograph him.

I've been asking Presley to be gentle with Bailey because he isn't feeling well. She decided to play music and read to him to help him feel better. She plays with Moses much more so it was nice to see her care for Bailey. I plan to take Bailey and Moses to the river bed this weekend to get some outdoor photos.

Spring time in Arizona is the reason people live here. It's a perfect time of year to spend most any day outdoors. And that is exactly what we do, we eat most meals outdoors on the patio and bike or walk in the afternoons. I usually find myself eating plenty of avocados too. I love to make guacamole or have fresh avocado slices on salads and tacos.

I decided to make this post after talking to a friend who cut the palm of her bad very badly while trying to deseed an avocado.

First, cut into two equal slices. Take the half with the seed and place in the palm of your hand. Cut into he seed just enough to make the knife stick. The twist the knife in one direction while twisting the avocado in the other. The seed should pop right out (still attached to the knife). I learned this trick from Martha Stewart, kind of funny. I use to watch her show in my twenty's, but not her coldness drives me crazy.

February 09, 2010

I had a realization today when buying the supplies to make her Valentines cards. We needed 22 cards (some of her class mates will bring siblings to the party and kids from the Tuesday/Thursday class will also attend the party). Presley usually paints cards for birthday parties of her friends, but getting her to complete one can sometimes be a challenge. Knowing this I needed to find a easy way to make 22 cards.

I contemplated breaking down and buying her a Disney theme cards. I found 34 Princess cards (with glitter tattoos- seriously) for $6.00. I had never looked for these cards before and was shocked on how cheap they are... I asked myself, why don't I buy them? Why keep fighting it? I know to make the original 22 will cost me more money and time...

It hit me. Yes, "it's cheap today but what will it create?" She is not sophisticated enough to know that just because it's Princess Arial it doesn't make it better then something homemade or non brand... Especially in the case of food. I think it's offensive that so much money is spend on marketing food to kids rather then spend on the ingredients inside the food. She will then grow up thinking that brands are better (proven fact).

This topic comes up often (me not buying character stuff) at our home. I do feel sometimes I am depriving Presley, mostly when she is around kids who have that stuff. But then I take a step back, and see how much she loves her puppy Krypto and she doesn't know he's not "the real thing". The few character stuff she does have as gifts, she does like but not any more then her other toys and not more then Kyrpto.

In college I learned about a term, "planned adolescents" a tactic aimed at adults (savvy shoppers right?). If I remember correctly it's a term first used in the appliance industry, but pretty much works for anything. A hit car comes out, the Ford Expedition in 2005 (I'm just throwing out dates). Everyone buys one including yourself, you love it your happy you have the hottest car on the block... Then 2007 rolls around with a new body style, just enough to make it noticeable that your car is no longer the hottest car out there. And you now find yourself wanting, that newest hottest car out there... The cycle begins again...

OK, only I could turn making Valentines cards into a lesson on marketing... After this internal conversation with myself, Presley and I made her cards. I decided to go with only glittery stickers to decorate (after half the glitter was spilled). She was pleased to do them herself and I was able to step back after showing her how to take off the paper backing.